Post by Banjo on Jan 29, 2014 21:54:30 GMT 7
Australian Mental Health Human Rights and Law Reform Coalition
"New figures reveal that 31.3 per cent of people receiving the disability support pension have psychological or psychiatric conditions - the most common reason for receiving the payment. Last September, the most recent available figures, 258,640 people received the payment for mental health conditions.
The second most prevalent reason for receiving the pension were musculo-skeletal and connective tissue conditions at 26 per cent - about 214,579 people. Minister for Social Services Kevin Andrews said he was alarmed by this growth in the mental illness numbers.
"The growth in the proportion of people on DSP with a psychological and/or psychiatric impairment is the highest levels we have seen and the growth in this area is deeply concerning.
"The trend demonstrates more than ever the need for further reform of the Disability Support Pension. I am confident the welfare reform process will help the government to address this trend in a sensitive and supportive manner," he said.
A list provided to a Senate estimates hearing of the reasons people are receiving the payment reveal where the government may focus its crackdown. About 13,766 people are on the DSP for a "poorly defined cause", 1.7 per cent of people on the payment overall. Another 13,872, or 1.7 per cent overall, are receiving the DSP for "chronic pain"."
"New figures reveal that 31.3 per cent of people receiving the disability support pension have psychological or psychiatric conditions - the most common reason for receiving the payment. Last September, the most recent available figures, 258,640 people received the payment for mental health conditions.
The second most prevalent reason for receiving the pension were musculo-skeletal and connective tissue conditions at 26 per cent - about 214,579 people. Minister for Social Services Kevin Andrews said he was alarmed by this growth in the mental illness numbers.
"The growth in the proportion of people on DSP with a psychological and/or psychiatric impairment is the highest levels we have seen and the growth in this area is deeply concerning.
"The trend demonstrates more than ever the need for further reform of the Disability Support Pension. I am confident the welfare reform process will help the government to address this trend in a sensitive and supportive manner," he said.
A list provided to a Senate estimates hearing of the reasons people are receiving the payment reveal where the government may focus its crackdown. About 13,766 people are on the DSP for a "poorly defined cause", 1.7 per cent of people on the payment overall. Another 13,872, or 1.7 per cent overall, are receiving the DSP for "chronic pain"."
